I think in society the nine-to-five life is linked intrinsically to identity. But I know it’s definitely not what defines me. I do it because I want to support the people I love and so I can do the things I love.

Painting, making music, photography are all great things because there’s such a personal element to it. In creating things we are either consciously or unconsciously exposing part of ourselves to the world. There’s vulnerability to it, the kind of vulnerability that we need to connect to others. So it makes sense that we would create things in hope of some sort of mutual understanding from others. But there is such a fine line between searching for connectedness and simply needing validation. It’s scary because once we cross the line to validation the satisfaction and gratifications that are desired become a direct result of others. The happiness that comes from human connection becomes a one-way street and a point is reached where we unthinkably can lose control of the ability to generate our own happiness.

Something I’ve definitely learned is to not put too much pressure on something you love. If it’s meant to be it’s meant to be.